Retaining means



R. wfJoNEs.

RETAINING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED ^UG5| 1918.

1,894,177, Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

`. VENTQR BY @my UNITED stares sereni" ermee.

ROBERT W'. JONES, OF 'WILKESBAJRE EENNSYLVANIA.

RETAINING MEANS.

To all whomA t may concern.'

e it known that l, Ronnnr V17. donne, a citizen of the United States,residing at Villres-Barre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, have inventednew and usetnl lmprovements in Retaining` ldeans, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class ot retainersdesigned to prevent accidental disengagement of rotatable devices fromtheir driving shafts, and constitutes a divisional part of my originalapplication, iiled December 1S, 1917, Serial No. 207,807, although itsuse is not restricted to this class of work, as it may be applied tostationary supportingI members to retain rotatable devices thereon, andis useful in many other ways.

From the variety ot uses to which the invention may be put, l havechosen to illustrate its employment in connection with winding andrewindingrmachines 'for cinematographic films.

in this art, it has been customary to provide a winding machine having asuitably driven shaft or spindle adapted'to support the empty reel orspool on which the film is to be wound, the hub of said reel or spoolbeing preferably recessed to lit over or accommodate a spline fast onthe shaft.

A filled reel or spool may be suitably supported on a second spindle orshaft arranged parallel with the driven spindle or shaft, and the end otthe film connected to the hub of the empty spool.

As the driven spindle turns, it rotates the empty spool to unwind thefilm from the filled reel and wind it on the empty reel.

This operation is performed innumerable times during the life of a ilm,and the speed with which such operation can be completed, withoutdamaging the lilm, is important.

Obviously, since it is often desirable to rewind the ilms at the maximumspeed ot which the driven spindle is capable, both the unwinding andrewinding spools or reels must rotate at a very high rate of speed, andat such speed tend to slip oit the spindles.

As this accidental disconnection of the spools trom the spindles wouldresult in great delay, to say nothing of the damage to which the hlmwould be subjected, it has been custernary to thread the outer ends otthe spindles and apply nuts thereto, after the inser- Specicaten or'Letters Eatent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921. and this application led August tion of thespindles through the hubs of the spools, to prevent such disconnection.

While these nuts answer the purpose to ace tain extent, they have thedisadvantage that they require a little time to apply and remove, andoften necessitate the use of a tool in their removal, especially whenset tightly against the inner end of the threads.

Obviously, the threads in the nuts must be matched with the threads onthe spindles, before turning the nuts on the spindles, to avoidcross-threading, which sometimes requires a little time and attention onthe part ot the operator.

Furthermore, and more important, the spindles are turned in oppositedirections to their usual direction of rotation, as when inspecting thefilm and in rewinding films lalter each projection on the screen.

Such reverse rotation often operates to turn the securing nuts oli ofthe spindles to permit the disengagement of the reels therefrom, due tothe pressure of the reels against the inner faces of the nuts, when thereels are turned., or to vibration when the nuts are not set tightly.

My invention is designed to obviate all of the foregoing disadvantageswhich ilm operators have submitted to for years.

Thus, one object is to provide a retainer which is more easily andquickly applied to and removed from the spindles, at a minimum of laborand attention on the part of the operator, and wholly without the use oftools ot any sort.

Another object is to provide a retainer which will prevent theaccidental disengagement ot reels from their spindles, notwithstandingthe direction of rotation of the spindles. Y

A, further object is to provide a retainer which will remain secured onthe spindle against accidentally working loose from any cause.

Still another' object is to provide a retainer so arranged that theoutward thrust ot the reels thereagainst will result in causing theretainer to more securely grip the spindle.

To these and other ends, my invention includes the various novelfeatures and comoinations ot parts, all ot which will be more tallyexplained hereinafter and particularly forth in the claims.

hub is n rl re .n flut q ,1. r" Y anc. acconnnoc W.e a sp ine i a collar8 on the progectinp,v enc w preferably recessed, as

oiu driving` shait or lspindle inounted to rotate in suitable bearingsand venient manner.

Rotation of the spindle or shalt the spool or reel to effect the coilinging of the tihn thereon.

he outer free end oit the driving` shaft or spindle projects beyond theouter side 6 ot the reel and in the present embodiment of the invention,such outer tree end is provided with a hook-shaped or bayonet slot 92wheredriven in any con- 5 turns or windby to enable the retainer to lockitseli' upon the shalt, and prevent the accidental disengagement of thespool or reel and shaft.

rlhe retainer, 1n the present instance, includes a hollow cylindricaldrum or arresting ineinber 8?, closed at one end except 'l'or anaperture therethrough to permit its insertion over the outerv groovedend of the shait or spindle 5a. rEhe apertured end wall S7` liesadjecent the outer end of the hub 1 ci the spool or reel. @ne end ot acoiled spring 93 inclosed within the barrel 87 presses the end wall 87against the hub of the spool to hold the latter against the collar 8 onthe spindle and prevent la* ral play or the spool which might develop tosuch an extent es to result in the disc-omiectionu of the hub l and itsspline '7. n An apertured cap 8S having a threaded tlange 88 adapted toscrew onto the open threaded end the drinn or arresting` `ineinber 87,closes said open end, the. cap constituting a means to connect thespool-arrestingineinber 84" with the locking inernber, or hey.

k@auch locking member or licy, includes a head or linger piece 95,preferably linurled to facilitate operation, secured to the outer end ofa cylindrical barrel S9 chainbered or provided with a soclet at itsinner end, as at 90, to lit over the tree end ot the spindle 5, andhaving locking pin or bit 91 projecting,` into the chamber to enter andfollow the bayonet slot or groove 92 torined in or on the spindle.

The cylindrical barrel ot the key projects through the aperture in thecap or connecting,- inernber S8, and carries an annular shoulder 9e, theouter lace ot which bears against the inner tace or' the cap around theaperture tirc' to prevent disengagement of the locking and arrestingmembers. The outer end ot the spring,l 93 contacts the inner tace ot'the shoulder, the spring beingv oi' such length that it is normallyunder tension,

assembled with the cap when the retainer is screwed onto the drum, topress the drum against the outer end of the hub l oi the spool. Y

.The open end ot' the groove or slot 92 e.:- tends to a point Alush withthe outer or 'free end oi the spindle 5t.

in applyingY the retainer to the spindle, the spool or reel f t placedon the spindle with the inner end ot its hub against the colla 8, sothat the recess Q lits over the spline The operator then grasos the headthe hey the retainer anc brings the aperturcd end o'j the drinn 87toward the outer free end oi2 the spincle to enter the latter i; thedruni, the spindle passing axially through the coiled springl The drinn,or arrester isslid onto the spindle until its inner end contacts the o-ter end ot the hub .l ot the spool or reel, a'itcr which continuedpressure on the key eorpresses the spring,` to yieldinely hold thearrester against the spool, and advances the charnbered or socketed endot the key toward the spindle until the outer end of the latter entersthe chamber or socket 90 o'l the he* and abuts the locking pinor bit 9i,whereupon the operator turns the keyrelatively to the spindle until thebit registers with the open end ot th locking slot or groove 92. Furtherpressure of the hey against the tension of spring` 93 then causes thebit to travel along,` the slot or groove 92, the ley'being turned tocause the'bit to follow the hoolrshaped groove until it reaches theclosed end of the slot which prevents 'further rotation ot the key andspindle. Releasing the hey at this point in the operation enables thespring 93 to snap the bit into its seat at the closed end ot the grooveto prevent accidental release of the retainer' troni the spindle. Y

t will be observed that the key barrel 89 and arrester S7 may turn andtelescope 'tre-ely relatively to each other, to permit the 'foregoingoivieration,V in case Vthe arrester should turn with the spool duringthe application of the retainer to the spindle either because otfrictional contact or because ot burs accidentally torined on theabutting faces oil the hub l and the end-7a or the arrester- Theretainer is disengaged fron the spindle by pressing` the key inwardly,to displace the bit 91' troni its sent at the closed end ol slot E2, andthen turning` the hey in the reverse direction to cause the pin toretrace its path along the slot or groove until it reaches the branchleading to the open end of the slot, vhereupon cessation of pressure onthe key will enable the spring 93 to jump the retainer olf the spindle.

ln practice, it is customary to start the spindle, as the retainer isbeing applied thereto, whereby to register the open end of the grooveWith the bit, instead of turning the ley to register the bit with thegroove. and in this Way, taking advantage of the rotation of the spindleto cause the bit to enter and follouT the groove. Likewise, in removingthe retainer, the key is pressed inwardly to dislodge the bit from itsseat, and the eirection of rota-tion of the spindle reversed.

rlhis enables the instant application'and removal of the retainer.

rlhe retainer will be effective irrespective of the direction ofrotation of the spindle4 and also whether or not the turns relatively tothe ley. y

Also, the arresting drum 8T is of such length that it enables theretainer to be used in connection with reels or spools of varyingWidths, the only difference being a variation in the degree ofcompression to which the coiled spring 93 is subjected.

The continued pressure of the arrester 87 against the spool or otherarticle prevents the latter from rattling, and jvabblinfr duringrotation` and thus obviates a further objectionable feature of the priorart.

Changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the several' partsset forth Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,which, it will be understood, includes the reversal of arrangement ofthe various elements relatively to each other.

W hat I claim as new, is`

l. The combination with a suitable support having a hook-shaped slot orgroove formed in one end thereof; of unitary retainer removablyapplicable to the support to releasably retain a rotatable memberthereon, the retainer including a locking member having a bore adaptedto iit over the outer slotted end of the shaft; a bit carried by thelocking member and projecting into the bore, the bit adapted to beentered in and removed from the hook-shaped slot; an apertured arrestingmember adapted to removably surround the outer end of the support, theinner end of the arresting member normally in contact With the rotatablemember to hold the latter in place; the arresting member being chamberedto inclose the inner end of the locking member; means to connect the.rresting and locking members against disengagement, and to permitrelative rotary and telescopic movement thereof; and a spring inolosedWithin the arrestarresting drum 'gage the spindle ing member and bearingagainst the locking member to retain the latter .vhere adjusted.

2. The combination with a suitable support; of a unitary retainerapplicable to and removable from the support to releasably retain arotatable member thereon; the retainer including an apertured drumadapted to inclose the outer end of the support, and preventdisengagement of the rotatable member and support; a locking memberarranged axially of, and projecting into the drum, the locking memberconnected to the drum against disengagement therefrom, and to permitfree relative rotation throughout a full circle in either direction, theinner end of the locking member adapted to releasv ably engage thesupport to lool; the drum against accidental disengagement; means toreleasably maintain the locking member Where adjusted; and a fingerpiece on the outer end of the locking member to facilitate manipulation.

3. The combination With a suitable support; of a unitary retainerapplicable to and removable from the support to releasably retain arotatable member thereon; the retainer including an apertured drumadapted to inclose the outer end of the support, and preventdisengagement of the rotatable member and support g-a locking memberprojee-ting into the drum, the locking member connected tothe drumagainst disengagement therefrom, and to permit free relative rotationthroughout a full circle in either direction, the inner end of thelocking member adapted to releasably engage the support to lock the drumagainst accidental disA engagement; and means to releasably main tainthe locking member .vhere adjusted.

4. The combination with a spindle; of a self-contained retainerapplicable to and removable from the spindle as a unit, to re leasablyretain a rotatable article thereon; the retainer including' a chamberedarresting member adapted to fit over the support With its inner end inthe path of removal of the article; a locking member, whose inner endprojects into the outer end of the arresting member, and adapted toreleasably ena spring interposed between the arresting and lockingmembers; a cap through which the locking member eX- tends, .the capadapted to close the outer end of the arresting' member; and means onthe locking member to coact with the cap to prevent disengagement of thelocking and arresting members and permit relative rotary and telescopicmovement thereof.

5. rilhe combination with a driving shaft, and a spool removably appliedthereto and rotated thereby; the outer end of the driving shaftprojecting beyond the spool; of a retainer to releasably hold the spoolin place on the shaft, including a hollow ar rester having an aperturedend to accommodate the outer end of the shaft; an apertured connectorclosingthe opposite end of the arrester; a manually-operable key, thebarrel of which is journal in theY connector to permit reiative rotaryand telescopic motion between the arrester and key; a shoulder on thebarrel within the arrester; to coact with tl e connector and preventdiseenneetion of the key and ar ester; the inner end of the key having'a socket to tit over the outer end of the shaft; releasableinterengaging means between the key-socket and shaft; and a springadapted to bear against the apertnred end of the zrrester, and theshoulder en the key barrel., respectively.

6. The combination of a spindle; of a retainer for holding,` an articleon said spindle; including an arresting' member adapted to tit over teespindle and Contact the article; a locking` key telescopicaily mountedin the arresting member, and having a socket to fit over the end of thespindle and projecting beyond the arresting member Jfor manipulation;means te limit the movement i of' the key outward 1with relation to thearresting member; the spindle having a locking groove formed therein;.locking` pin carried by the key; and projecting` into the socket, toenter the lockinggroove; and a spring` inclosed by the arresting member,the spring` operative to press the latter to# Ward the articie and t0hold the looking pin in locking engagment.

7. The combination with a spindle on which articles may be removablymounted Jfor ro tation; of a sell contained retainer remove ably appliedto the spindle, to prevent accidental disengagement of the articletherefrom7 and including' an arresting member adapted to titV overy thespindle, with its 1nner end adjacent the article; a manually-operablelookin@ key; the inner end et which means between the key-socket andenters the outer end of the arresting member, and provided with a socketto tit over the end of the spindle, and releasably engage the latter; aclosure for the outer end oi the arresting` member, the locking keybeing` journaled in the closure to permit relative rotary and telescopioadjustment of the locking key and arresting member;

means coacting with the closure to prevent disengagement of the key andthe arrestingmember; and a spring operative to press the arrestingmember toward the article on the spindle; and to hold the locking key ineffective position on the spindle.l

8. The combination with a shaft, and means removably applied thereto;the outer end et the shaft projecting' beyond said removable means; olia retainer to releasably hold the removable means in piace on theshai't; including a hollow arrester, having an apertured inner end, toaccommodate the enter end of the shaft; an apertured con` nector toclose the enter end of the arrester; a manually-operable key, the barrelof which is journaled in the connecter to permit relative rotary andtelescopic motion between the arrester and key; means yon the barrel oftbe key Within the arrester to coact with the connector to preventdisconnection ot the key and arrester; the inner end of the key having`a socket to iit over the outer end of the shaft; releasable interengaging shaft; and a spring adapted to press the key outwardlyrelatively to the arrester; the outer end of the key barrel projectingbeyond the connectorto enable manipulation of the key by the operator.

ROBERT W. J ONES.

`\Vitnesses LrNN W. BALLET, SAMUEL K. MCHENRY.

